vet reccs? - 2007/05/25 10:23I saw the vet yesterday for a check up due to possible mites. Luckily it came up negative. He recommended a change in bedding. I'm currently using Carefresh Ultra and I like it. He reccomended Yesterdays News or alfalfa bedding. Has anyone had any experience with these? good bad? cheap expensive?
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Knitzel
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/25 12:26If the test came up negative, why the change in bedding? Yesterday's News is okay, although it's really, really heavy. Personally, my only problem with the Carefresh is the cost. You could try kiln-dried pine or aspen, although it was my understanding that mites usually come from wood shavings.
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Julie Pierce
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/25 13:43There are a couple of thoughts on the mites. One school of thought is they come from a bad batch of bedding. Another school of thought is that they are always present but only become a noticeable problem when the animal is under stress/ immune system is compromised. My girl Annabelle has a mite outbreak after having a litter of babies...it never fails. Since she gets them in response to having babies and because all my hedgies use the same bedding and dont have an outbreak,,,,,I am leaning toward the 2nd school of thought. But that is just my personal experience and opinion.Julie Pierce Pierce's Pogs http://www.piercespogs.com
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CThogs
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/25 19:50Don't know why your vet would suggest a change in bedding. Recycled paper is processed so much that I don't think mites could live through the process. Both carefresh and yesterdays news are recycled paper. Carefresh ultra is expensive but very absorbent and not as heavy. Never tried the alfalfa pellet bedding.
Heres an article if you want to see the pros and cons of each type:
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kjandy
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/25 21:52yea, my vet said that the mites might flare up and become a problem at some point and to keep an eye out for extra flaky skin and scratching. He also suggested that since hedgehogs are used to living outside, to try to create a natural landscape (as in not all even) to help with stimulation and keeping da feet clean.
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kjandy
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/25 21:55and just out of curiousity, is there any school of thought on combining beddings? such as alfalfa and newspaper? not sure and completely just a hypthetical question.
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Stasi
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/26 00:18Some of the alfalfa pellets break down really quickly. They make quite a bit of dust. If anyone who's going to be in the same household has hayfever- the alfalfa can trigger the allergies.
Carefresh is very safe for your hedgehog, is clean, absorbent, doesn't make dust and is comfortable to walk on. Personally, I'd keep your hedgehog on the carefresh.Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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nettenboys
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/27 00:11i used the alfalfa/wood pellets that we get at the feed store (called comfort bedding) its pretty cheap... i have rabbits too, it helps on the smell SOOOOO much. especially if anyone knows how bad male bunnies can smell. i use it on my hedgies too, well some of them. Chocolate (my male) tends to eat apiece or chew it and the anoint himself. Vanilla and pippi love it. but i switchit upa little sometimes and i will use corn cob (i know others have had problems with it but i use it mainly in the litter box) we also use carefresh and the liners too. but the pellets are by far the best for eliminating the smell. and as far as the dust part, i have hayfever and there isn't a problem that i noticed.
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Stasi
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/27 09:05Corn cob is a really bad idea. It not only can get stuck in genital areas, but easily molds when it becomes wet.Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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kjandy
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/28 11:53Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think carefresh will do just fine for the meantime. now the big question, how do I stop heffy's wheel from falling down on top of him!!! I need a weight or something but dont want to put anything in there that will hurt him.
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HamorHollow
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/30 18:43kjandy wrote: He also suggested that since hedgehogs are used to living outside, to try to create a natural landscape (as in not all even) to help with stimulation and keeping da feet clean.
Since our hedgehogs have been bred in captivity since (at least) the early 90's and have been removed from their wild ancestors for several generations, they aren't used to living outside or to any other landscape. You can help with stimulation by taking them out of the cage and letting them explore and play.
I would stick with carefresh of pine. You could try adding more bedding or cleaning the wheel more ofter (ya, I know) to help with the poop boots.
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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HamorHollow
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/30 18:47Stasi wrote: Corn cob is a really bad idea. It not only can get stuck in genital areas, but easily molds when it becomes wet.
It is also very rough on their feet and can cause scrapes and cuts. Imagine walking on small rough rocks without your shoes on and not being able to walk off of them.
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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starnightstarsky2000
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/30 22:43On the wheel question: My dad took our plans for making a bucket wheel and instead of using pc pipe for the stand he used copper instead which makes it just heavy enough that Addie can't knock it over so that is how we fixed the wheel falling problem. Hope that helpsDani Marshall Kansas Lots Of Love Exotic Small Animal Kennel "From Our Heart To Yours" http://www.exotic-mammals.4t.com
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kjandy
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Re:vet reccs? - 2007/05/31 05:46yea I figured. I do clean his wheel every morning as it does such a wonderful job of decorating it for me. he runs like a madman every night. I put extra carefresh in this week to see what if anything would change.. the only change is that he threw it in his water dish. *doh* but he's still doing well, but every now and then I hear a "thump thump thump thump". I cant tell if he's scratching or just moving in his hedgie bag (which he still adores and hates when I take it to wash it!).
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Personally, I'd keep your hedgehog on the carefresh.
